Ban on single-engine planes to carry passengers

KATHMANDU, Aug 28

The single-engine airplanes, that were focused on carrying passengers after decline in cargo flights, will no longer be allowed to carry passengers with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) banning single-engine planes from doing so.

CAAN has downgraded Sita Air and Air Kasthamandup—that were carrying passengers to the remote sector—to cargo airline with the decision. Sita has been demoted to cargo in lack of aviation safety, progress report and necessary documents even though it has double-engine airplanes, according to Director General of CAAN Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. “We have taken action against Sita for failing to meet level two safety standards. It will be taken back if the company improves,” he says.

The step of CAAN is set to hit the companies whose cargo business has been falling. Sita had carried 8,803 passengers and Kasthamandup 233 in the last year. Makalu, Goma and Kasthamandup were carrying cargo through single-engine airplanes even though other companies are also carrying cargo now. All the single-engine airplanes, and even double-engine of Sita, now will have to carry only cargo. CAAN has downgraded Sita and Kasthamandup during renewal of Air Operators Certificate (AOC). CAAN has renewed AOC of Buddha, Yeti, Tara, NAC, Simrik Airlines, Simrik Air, Makalu, Shree, Goma, Air Dynasty and Mountain Helicopter.

CAAN has been acting tough after the European Union (EU) blacklisted Nepali airline companies prohibiting all the Nepali airline companies from operating flights in countries under the EU since December 5, 2013. It has said that the single-engine planes, and the companies not completing documents have been prohibited from operating passenger flights accordingly. The EU had judged Nepali aviation sector on the basis of certificates, flight operation and flight qualification as per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. It was also based on CAAN regulations, working procedures, rules and the latest report prepared by the ICAO on Nepal.

Only Humla and Dolpa districts have yet to be connected to the road network, and the airline companies can operate cargo flights round the year to only these districts. They operate cargo flights to other districts only at times of natural disasters like flood and landslides. A total of 2.28 million kilograms of goods were carried in cargo flights in 2013, a fall of 12 percent from 2.69 million kilograms in 2012. It was 4.39 million kilograms in 2011.     

Year	Cargo (in kg)
2009	4.38 million
2010	3.69 million
2011	4.39 million
2012	3.41 million
2013	2.38 million